Manchester Giants Promote Danny Byrne to BBL Head Coach - Hoopsfix.com

Manchester Giants Promote Danny Byrne to BBL Head Coach

Manchester Giants have moved quickly to announce their new Head Coach with the appointment of Danny Byrne.

The 41-year-old served as Yorick Williams’ assistant in the BBL and led the Giants II team to the NBL Division 4 league title this season – picking up the NBL D4 Coach of the Year award in the process.

Manchester announced on Tuesday that Williams was to step aside as player-coach and move to an ambassadorial role with the club.

Bryne becomes the club’s third Head Coach since returning to the BBL in 2012 having only made the playoffs once in those five seasons.

“It’s a good opportunity from a personal point of view, and one that I couldn’t turn down,” said Byrne.

“I’ve got my head round it now, being assistant has prepared me for it. I’ve learned a lot about the league and how teams are coached. I’ve been building and building to get to this point, and it’s probably happened quicker than I thought.

“I want to put a team together and compete and win games. There are different parts to that and we’ll increase professionalism and have clear aims and objectives for the team.”

Byrne, who hails from Plymouth, came through the Raiders’ junior ranks and played for Thames Valley Tigers as well as Rossendale Raptors before taking on a coaching role with Lancashire Spinners.

Recruitment plans for next season are already underway with the aim of building a pathway for young players from the Division 3 side to gaining bench experience in the BBL.

Giants CEO, John Dwan, added: “We wanted to move quickly to replace Yorick to ensure that the new coach had as much time as needed to make the changes needed to take the club forward.

“Danny has proved his basketball expertise and professionalism, and we are already excited about the ideas he has to improve performances on the court and the development of a pathway for our young players.

“Clearly, we have to do much better on the court next season and we believe that Danny is the man to make that happen.”

The Giants finished bottom in the 2016-17 league campaign with five wins from 33 with Callum Jones earning a spot in the BBL All-British Team of the Year.

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